DADA for Muggles [Wednesday, September 9, 5th period]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom today resembled a farmers' market. Under the enchanted sky (today a clear blue), there were bins of various objects: cabbages, sticks, potatoes, and logs.

"Good afternoon, class," Remus said as they entered, the desks shoved to the sides of the classroom. "Today we tackle the problem of camouflaged enemies. Since this is only the second week of class, we're starting you out small. Each of these bins contains both perfectly innocuous objects, and creatures that resemble them. None of them is particularly dangerous -- however, you are all welcome to a pair of gloves, should you feel the need."

He paused, and continued, "While these animals are all from our world, specifically, it is hardly uncommon for creatures, both dark and light, to conceal themselves by masquerading as something else. For instance, most jungle-dwelling large cats have patterns that resemble shadows from their natural environment, so as to blend in all the better and stalk their prey."

"Some modifications can serve defensive purposes," Sirius added. "And some--like a Whomping Willow--" his eyes twinkled at Remus, "--are just ornery." Sirius nodded and gestured at the bins. "In today's exercise, you're looking to differentiate dugbogs from logs, bowtruckles from sticks, gnomes from potatoes and Chinese Chomping Cabbages from, erm, cabbages." He began passing around sheets of parchment breaking down the differences between the various objects.

"And as a final note, next week we will be covering boggarts, which take the form of your greatest fear," Remus added. "If you'd like to be excused from class in advance, do please see Professor Black or myself during our office hours."

[OOC: Preplayed with lycanthromoony, the excessive OCD is up! Have at it!]

Comments

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny vaguely thought she remembered that from last week. "Jenny." She experimentally poked another cabbage with her gloved finger. "Okay, this one didn't bite me, but that might just be because I'm poking its bum, for all I know."

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[living_endless]

"Nah." Didi leaned over the bin, less-favored pencil in hand. "If you were poking its bum, it would giggle."

She poked at another with the pencil, and it turned with a fierceness uncommon in cabbages to gnaw at the wood. Didi stepped away, sacrificing the pencil. "So that's one of the chompy ones. See any difference? 'Cause it looks like a cabbage to me."

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny attempted to wrest the pencil from the cabbage. It took her a couple of tugs, and she only got about half of it back. She held up the pencil stub and said, "Good thing this one was the one you didn't like so well, then," before returning her attention to the bitey cabbage.

After a moment she leaned closer--but not too close, she liked her nose as it was, thanks--and pointed with the pencil stub to the general area where the mouth had been. "Is there like a line?"

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[living_endless]

"I think so," Didi said, keeping the same safe distance as Jenny. "And it's ... wiggling? Compared to the other cabbages, anyhow."

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny nodded. "Right. So we can totally ID a chomping cabbage now. They're the ones that bite."

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[living_endless]

"Which I would never, ever, ever have guessed without poking at them," Didi said, so wide-eyed she might even be sincere. "Would you?"

Re: Bin #4: Chinese Chomping Cabbages and Cabbages

[ashockingbitch]

"No, I never would've imagined," Jenny said, equally wide-eyed but with a dollop of sarcasm in her tone. She never could quite get rid of it entirely.